Clutch



' July 30, 1935. E. MATTHEWS 2,009,507

' CLUTjCH Filed April 14,' 1953.

INVENTOR ms ATTORNEYS Patented July 30, 1935 UNITED STATES cam-on Philip E. Matthews, Plainfleld, N. 1.1mm to International Motor Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application April 14, 1933, Serial No. 666,111

'Eaged and disengaged with the member upon which it is mounted and with which it has a driving engagement.

In certain forms of clutches where the capacity of the clutch is such as to require a disc of relatively large diameter, it is desirable that the disc be disconnected with the driving shaft upon which it is mounted during the shifting operation of the transmission mechanism in connection with which the clutch is used. In order that a mechanism for effecting such disengagement may be provided, the present invention has been designed and an object thereof is to provide a clutch construction having means incorporated therein to disengage the clutch disc from the driving shaft during the disengaging operation of the clutch.

A further object of the invention is to provide a clutch construction wherein means is provided to disengage the driving connection between a clutch disc and its driving shaft when the clutch is disengaged andmeans is furthenprovided to synchronize the engaging operation of the members by means of which disengagement of the disc and shaft is effected.

Further objects, not specifically enumerated above, will be apparent as the invention is described in greater detail in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figin'e 1 is a view in section, taken in a plane passing through the axis of a clutch constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the balk ring and tooth engaging therewith when the clutch is in its engaging position.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, showing the pdsition of these elements when the clutch is disengaged.

Referring to the above drawing, a driving shaft is shown at I9, upon which a flywheel II is mounted. The flywheel is formed with a clutch face l2 and provided with a cover It upon which a movable clutch disc I4 is mounted. Shafts l5 and springs it serve to urge the disc |4 toward the face l2 and into engagement with a clutch disc H which is mounted upon a sleeve II. Sleeve I9 is secured to a sleeve l9 which is joumaled upon a drife shaft 20 by means of roller bearings 2|. Drive shaft 29 may be journaled at 22 in the end of the driving shaft ill and is connected through asplined connection 2l,'with a sliding member 24.

At the end of the sleeve 19 adjacent the sliding member 24, the ring is formed with internal teeth 25 which are adapted to be engaged by external teeth 29 formed on the sliding member 24. The external surface of the sleeve 9 adjacent the teeth 25 is conically formed and adapted to en- 5 gage a cooperating conical surface formed upon a balk ring 21. This ring is slidably mounted within a cylindrical housing 29, secured to the member l9, and 'is formed \with one or .more grooves 29 having recesses 30. One or more teeth lo 3| are formed on the sliding member 24 and adapted to engage the grooves 29.

The sliding member 24 is connected to the clutch throw-out bearing 32 through a flange 33 and the operation of the mechanism is as fol- 5 lows. When the clutch is engaged, the teeth 3| engage recesses 30 and the elements are in the position shown in Figures 1 and 2. Driving connection from disc I! to shaft 29 is provided through the sleeve I9, teeth 25 and 26, and slid- 20 ing member 24. When the clutch disc I! is disengaged, sliding member 24 is moved to the right, as viewed in Figure 1, and the teeth 25 and 29 are thus disengaged. Teeth 3| engage the right hand side of grooves 29 and the balk ring 21 is 25 moved to the right. Rotation of the sliding member 24 causes the teeth 3| to engage one end of the grooves 29, as shown in Figure 3.

When the clutch is engaged, initial movement of the sliding member 24 to the left, as viewed 30 in Figure 1, causes the teeth 3| to move the balk ring to the left and the conical surfaces formed on the members l9 and 21 are brought into engagement. As soon as members l9 and 21 are synchronized, the teeth 3| slip into recesses 39 36 and the teeth 25 and 26 are engaged.

It will thus be seen that a clutch construction has been provided wherein the clutch disc is automatically disengaged and engaged with the shaft upon which it is mounted in accordance 40 with the disengaging and engaging action of the clutch mechanism.

While the invention has been described with specific reference to the accompanying drawing, it is not to be limited, save as defined-in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention: v g r 1. A clutch and clutch operating means, said clutch having a clutch disc and a shaft upon which the disc is mounted, a spring to move the 50 clutch means into engaging position, teeth formed on the disc, a slidable member on the shaft, teeth on the slidable member to engage the first teeth, means to actuate the slidable member, a balk ring having a friction surface adapted to engage the disc as synchronize the speeds thereof beiore engagement of the teeth thereon, said ring having s circumferential groove and a recess on the side of the groove adjacent the disc, a projection on the slidabie member to enzaze the groove, and means to operate the means to actuate the slidable member by the clutch operating means whereby the spring operates both the clutch and the synchronizinz means.

2. A clutch and clutch operatin: means, said clutch havin: a clutch disc and a shaft upon whichthcdiscismolmtedaclutchsprinate move the clutch means into ensasins position, teeth formed on the disc, 9. siidabie member on the shaft. teeth on the siidable member to engaae the first teeth, means between the slidsbie member and disc to synchronize the speeds thereoivbeiore enaazement of the teeth therein, and means to actuate the synchronizing means by the clutch operating means whereby the clutch springoperates both the clutch and the synchronizinz means.

PHILIP I. MATTHEWS. 

